Voters urged to use last chance to check status

IT is all systems go for final voter registration across the Eastern Cape this weekend.

IEC provincial electoral officer Thamsanqa Mraji said an additional 21 voting stations would be open in the province, adding to the 4 678 that were open during the first registration weekend drive.

President Jacob Zuma announced this week that the local government elections would take place on August 3.

Once this is proclaimed into law by Cooperative Governance Minister David van Rooyen, the voters’ roll will be officially closed.

No registrations will be able to take place once it is promulgated.

Mraji said: “This will be the final opportunity for eligible voters to register in person at the voting stations located where they ordinarily reside.

“Also, this is an opportunity for voters to confirm and update their details and addresses.”

Mraji said the IEC had set a target of trying to register 80% of voters.

“The first registration weekend was affected by service delivery protests and eight voting stations did not open for registration.

“To protect voting stations, the SAPS will continue to maintain law and order.”

However, Mraji said, the possibility of more community protests was being monitored, with systems in place for any eventuality.

The Herald has been inundated with calls from residents who said when they checked their registration status with political parties, they found they were registered in other wards and not where they lived and voted before.

The IEC has encouraged voters to check their registration status and voting stations.

To check registration status, call 0800-11-8000 or SMS your ID number to 32810 at R1 per SMS.